Small business associations provide many benefits, including networking, training events, information on industry trends, and discounts on items like insurance, office products, training, and conferences.
Finding the right associations could be the difference between getting a foot in the door, having emails or calls answered—and can ultimately help you build relationships that change the trajectory of your business.
Types of small business associations
Small business associations can range based on who is backing them, what industries they serve, what type of owners they cover, and much more.
There are government-backed associations, private associations, non-profit associations, and a wide range of more specialized groups.
Membership costs vary. Some organizations are free, while others require a nominal annual membership fee.
List of small business associations
General business associations
Some small business associations aren’t niche or industry-specific. They can dispense advice to owners of any type of small business.
Often they know who you should know, can connect you with mentors, or direct you to other associations for your industry.
Cross-disciplinary interaction is another upside to being a member of a general small business association. By mingling with business owners outside your area of expertise, you might find a solution to a business problem from someone who thinks differently than you do. Or you may find a partner to collaborate with to create a new product or service.
For general small business associations, the US Small Business Association (SBA) and its local partners should be your first stop.
Most cities and many community colleges offer programs via an SBA partnership, including:
Other general associations to consider include:
Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council
Chambers of commerce deserve a special spotlight based on their purpose: to advocate for local businesses, to build a community, and to support the local economy.
Most states and cities have a chamber of commerce. Oftentimes, this is a great place to start when searching for new groups to join.
Membership isn’t limited to your physical location, so consider joining wherever you’d like to grow your business. Your business can be a member of multiple chambers of commerce.
To find a specific state or city chamber of commerce, either check the list on ChamberofCommerce.com or search online using the keywords “Chamber of Commerce + [your state/city].”
There are also chambers of commerce for specific minority groups:
Veteran-owned business associations
If you’re a veteran-owned small business looking for veteran-owned support, you should consider the following groups:
Woman-owned business associations
Minority-owned business associations
Minority-owned businesses can join these associations:
Industry-specific business associations
Learning from other disciplines has its perks, but sometimes you need to hear from your peers (and learn what your competition is up to), so don’t overlook associations specific to your industry.
Examples include:
Marketing
Construction
Retail
Small business communities
For something less formal, though still helpful, you can also join small business communities and online groups.
Whether that’s visiting the r/smallbusiness thread on Reddit, or joining more specialized small business communities, you can hear and learn a lot from your peers about entrepreneurship, real estate, SEO, and a range of other topics related to growing your business.
Online groups are also great for networking. They offer virtual as well as in-person events. Consider joining both industry-specific and location-specific groups.
Search for options on:
Tips for reviewing business associations
As you consider which associations to join, keep an open mind about how an association’s location or niche fits your business needs.
For example, both the local and national chapters of SCORE provide value. The local chapter can provide in-person connections while the national chapter can help connect you with other businesses similar to yours that aren’t direct competitors.
From a niche perspective, it can be useful to join cross-industry associations. If your business sells outdoor equipment, perhaps joining both a retail association and an outdoor association like the Outdoor Industry Association could boost your revenue.
And don’t “join and forget” the club. Spend time building relationships with other members as those business contacts could evolve into customers, partners, or mentors. The value of associations comes from being an engaged member.
It takes time and might cost a bit to join small business associations, but your business can reap the benefits of networking and advocacy opportunities in the long term.
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